ISPO Bike 2012 kicks off this week

Munich-set ISPO Bike starts this week, running from Thursday August 13th to 16th.

According to the show organisers, trends to watch out for include ‘futuristic design’, alternative materials, traffic safety and more lifestyle-orientated bikes.

The latest brand to offer a bamboo-built bike is Munich-based start-up Zuri. The sustainable bikes are produced individually according to customer specifications in Zambia, supporting the local economy. Bamboo is also being used in the Boo E-Touring – Bionx e-bikes by Boo Bicycles. The handcrafted bamboo-carbon hybrid frames are strong, ‘unbreakable’ and extremely light, while the BionX motor offers a 150km range. Zippler’s single speed bikes also make use of alternative materials, regenerating old frames with the help of sandblasting and ultrasonic bath treatments and reassembled with wood edging. Meanwhile, Moto Bicycles produces platform pedals made of wood, which ultra-flat and extremely light.

Accessories have also got in on the alternative materials act too, with Urban Lace fashioning jewellery and bags from old bicycle tubes. The eco-friendly, one-of-a-kind designs are made from recycled inner tubes sourced from local bike shops, while original handlebar bags by Beatrice Holiday are also made of recycled fabric and inner tubes.

Vespertine’s traffic safety bike wear features eye-catching bright neon colours, but with a fashion twist. Striking designs (pictured) combined with reflecting prints are pitched at hip city dwellers eager to stay safe in city traffic.

Revolights’ light system makes use of LEDs in bright colours – half of each front and rear wheel is lit up with white LEDs in front, and red LEDs in the rear. The light intensity of the rings increases according to the cycling speed – not only boosting cyclist visibility, but also providing ambient light for the bike rider.

Also at ISPO, Casco’s new helmet sheds light on nighttime traffic, thanks to a new coating. The Urban TC Plus Helmet lights up in darkness and recharges in daylight without needing batteries. Streetlights and car headlights also recharge the luminescent coating, which increases the lighting capacity during a nighttime bike ride.

All this and more will be at the show this week. Find out more at the official site: www.ispo.com/bike